Five Fights That Could Happen In The PFL In 2021

The PFL is set to kick things off here in 2021 in April with the start of another incredibly-stacked season of action.

Fighters in several weight classes will be competing for glory and a $1 million check at the end of a long and grueling regular season followed by a tournament before reaching the championship event.

Here’s a look at five of the top fights that we could see during the coming months:

Ray Cooper III vs. Magomed Magomedkerimov – Welterweight

A meeting of recent champions as Ray Cooper III scored the 2019 title and Magomed Magomedkerimov picked up top honors in 2018.

The man from Hawaii known as “Bradda Boy” earned a stoppage win to claim the 2019 PFL title and $1 million payday. He also made the finals of the 2018 event before falling to Magomed Magomedkerimov.

A rematch could be the ultimate battle at lightweight in 2021.

Clay Collard vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier – Lightweight

While he waited for the start of the PFL season, Clay Collard made a run inside the boxing ring, picking up several victories. The MMA veteran will look to transfer those skills and momentum into a run at the big payday in MMA.

Collard has picked up 10 knockout wins in his career, but he would find quite the challenge in a potential meeting with Olivier Aubin-Mercier. 

Aubin-Mercier has not been stopped in his career and owns eight submission wins including victories over Evan Dunham, David Michaud and Drew Dober.

Mohammed Usman vs. Ali Isaev – Heavyweight

With a perfect record and 2019 PFL crown to his resume, Ali Isaev will feel the pressure this coming season as he looks to defend. That includes a potential meeting with Mohammed Usman.

Usman, the brother of UFC champion Kamaru Usman, has won seven of eight MMA fights. “The Motor” is on a four-fight win streak and is a former college football standout. 

Bubba Jenkins vs. Lance Palmer – Featherweight

This could be the rivalry of 2021 as former NCAA wrestling standouts Bubba Jenkins and Lance Palmer chase after featherweight gold in the PFL.

Back during the 2007-08 wrestling season, Jenkins gained a pair of wins over Palmer on the mats. Both have been on a collision course ever since to test themselves inside the cage.

Jenkins is unbeaten since 2017 and has won 14 of his 18 career bouts overall, including world titles. Palmer Is a two-time PFL championship and also has not lost in over three years.

Kayla Harrison vs. Cindy Dandois – Women’s Lightweight

Olympic gold medalist and reigning PFL champion Kayla Harrison had quite the finish to 2020. She stepped into a new weight class and dominated, remaining unbeaten overall in her MMA career.

Harrison is one of the most dominant fighters in the world today. However, she is still relatively inexperienced compared to someone like Cindy Dandois.

The veteran has 21 professional fights to her name, earning 16 wins including four consecutive. She could be the challenge Harrison needs to test herself once again.